Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Some very important thoughts...


Words of St. Therese to her sister Celine:
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"Sometimes it happens that despite their best efforts, some souls remain imperfect because it would be to their spiritual detriment to believe they are virtuous or to have others agree that they are." - My Sister, St. Therese
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And:
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"Let us never seek what appears to be great in the eyes of creatures...  The only thing that is not envied is the last place; it is only there in that last place where one finds no vanity or spiritual affliction.  However, 'the way of man is not for him to decide', and at times, we catch ourselves desiring things that glitter.  Then let us humbly acknowledge ourselves among the imperfect and esteem ourselves little souls whom the good God sustains at each moment.  As soon as he sees us convinced of our nothingness, he extends his hand to us." - Celine, Sister and Witness to St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
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And:
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"You must never believe when you do not practice virtue that it is due to some natural cause such as illness, time, or grief.  You must draw a great lesson in humility from it and take your place among the little souls, since you are able to practice virtue only in such a feeble manner.  What is necessary for you now is not to practice heroic virtues but to acquire humility.  For that, your victories must of necessity always be mixed with failures, so that you cannot take any pleasure in thinking of them." - Celine, Sister and Witness to St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
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Art:  One of the better 'icons' I have ever seen of St. Therese, by Guillem Ramos-Poquí.  Go here for details as well as composition and execution photos - very informative for students interested in iconography.

4 comments:

  1. My friend needed those quotes - thank you.

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  2. Thank you for the beautiful meditation and the link to the iconographer...loved it!

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  3. You are welcome Angela - I also need them today.

    Father - his site is interesting isn't it - I would say this is one of the best images I have seen because it is so well executed - I'm not especially fond of the floral, but it is beautifully done nevertheless. Interesting that he stresses Therese's blue eyes - Celine seemed to paint them a brown or amber - thus I was always under the impression her eyes were brown.

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  4. Anonymous6:25 PM

    Thank you for these quotes.

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